A new year was ushered in this week, and along with good tidings and cheer, it brings with it a municipal election.
Manitobans will head to the polls on Oct. 24 to elect municipal representatives they feel will best represent the interests of both the voter and their communities.
But what are the best interests of Flin Flonners and the city they live in? And who is really paying attention to what the sitting council is doing, anyway?
Back in 2014 when the current council was elected, candidates in the running listed aging infrastructure, partnerships, barriers to government funding, seniors’ housing and declining population as major challenges facing Flin Flon. The election was held as highly divisive talks of annexing outlying cottage areas were in the works – newly elected Mayor Cal Huntley said in early 2015 those talks were on the backburner, and on the backburner they have remained throughout the majority of his mayorality.
More than three years later, the city’s atmosphere has changed, due largely in part to the announcement the 777 mine would be closing in 2020. But have the challenges Flin Flon faces remained the same? And what has council done to address the root causes of those challenges?
These questions are largely rhetorical, because Flin Flon constituents’ turnout to council meetings is abysmally low.
People aren’t engaging – they don’t see first-hand what council is doing. The highest resident turnout for a meeting since October was four people. It’s not a surprise, really – the regular meetings of Flin Flon council generally contain the simple passing of resolutions and bylaws. The outcomes of these meetings are important, but the content is dry, with little discussion or debate.
The discussion, debate, and bouncing of ideas that get councillors to the voting process generally happens during a municipality’s committee of the whole meetings. When residents attend these meetings, they have the opportunity to hear where different councillors stand on different issues. They can gauge whether those councillors really are meeting the best interests of those individuals and the community as a whole. These meetings are where residents can become better informed on the decisions council faces and how they are approached. It’s an opportunity for locals to become more engaged – something, one would think, people who are elected for their foresight and passion for the community would encourage.
Committee of the whole meetings are mandated by law in Manitoba to be open for public attendance. Members of the public don’t need permission to attend. Except in Flin Flon, where they do, because committee of the whole meetings have been held in a locked building that requires special access to enter.
There is next to no public attendance at council meetings, but any would-be attendees have faced a major barrier to important, meaningful, transparent discussion.
People become apathetic when they feel powerless, and if information is power, Flin Flonners have been at a disadvantage. The apathy shows; only about 25 per cent of Flin Flon’s population voted in the 2014 municipal election.
Now is not the time for Flin Flonners to be apathetic. This city, with all the challenges it already faces, is about to experience a potential major change – one which, if it isn’t somehow mitigated, could prove to be detrimental. Mine closure or not, residents can’t just sit idly by and expect everything to turn out for the best.
Turn over a new leaf this year. Engage with council members. Come out to a few meetings. Determine whether you like what you see, and prepare to cast your votes.
